Margate began the 2026/27 season with a battling point away at Cray Valley (PM) on Saturday, in which they played the final 20 minutes with just ten men.
Manager Jamie Coyle gave returning Harry Seaden his second Margate debut, whilst Javaun Splatt led the line for Margate in his first competitive start.
Margate certainly started the afternoon on the front foot in the sun drenched Artic Stadium as Splatt took the ball down well before weaving past three and dragging an effort wide.
Cray hit back immediately with a better chance as they worked through the Margate backline creating a one on one with Seaden who made a superb sabe at the feet of the attacker to keep it 0-0.
The game, disrupted by a hydration break fell into a lull until the 32nd minute as Splatt almost produced a moment of magic as he received the ball from an Albie O’Mara-Knapp knockdown before swivelling and unleashing a fierce effort narrowly over the bar.
The home side saw a curling effort go narrowly wide on the stroke of half-time as both sides went in level at the break.
Margate started the second 45 on the front foot again as O’Mara-Knapp wriggled through and hit an effort wide of the left post via a deflection.
Cray came closest to opening the scoring on the hour as a deflected effort flew over Seaden but crashed off the post and away for a corner as Margate breathed a sigh of relief.
The game took a turn over the space of six minutes as Margate new boy Gibou Njie picked up a yellow card for a pull back, before six minutes later he was given a second yellow card as he lost possession and again pulled back his man to receive his marching orders.
The sending off gave the home side the confidence to push on and they were superbly denied in the 82nd minute as Seaden somehow denied an unmarked header with a super save to keep it 0-0.
Margate were defending like warriors as they threw themselves in front of everything. The ‘Gate almost won it in the 89th minute as Schafer collected the ball and curled an effort just inches wide of the far post as both sides settled for an opening day draw.
Margate XI: Seaden, Ossai, Njie, Thomas, Adewoju, O’Mara-Knapp (Wilkins 79’), Splatt (Wabo 58’) (Sithole 86’), Schafer, O’Mara, Dalton, Garande
Subs not used: Moralee, Caney-Bryan
Attendance: 365
Margate Man of the Match: Harry Seaden
